Art Berke, a lifelong White Sox fan, has worked at the highest levels of the sports industry with Major League Baseball, ABC Television and Sports Illustrated. He grew up in Northwest Indiana, in the shadow of old Comiskey Park, and proudly proclaims 2005 as the best year of his life. Art offers his glass half-full opinions and observations as he lives and dies with the Sox.

Changing Times

I just finished watching the video of Robin Ventura‘s gaggle with the press after yesterday’s initial spring training workout. Not that it comes as a surprise to any of us, but it’s more obvious than ever that we’re not going to recognize the aura around the White Sox for a while in this post-Ozzie existence.

It was pretty startling to hear the low-key, wry-humored Ventura interact with the media after eight seasons with the non-stop, often profane rants of Ozzie. I’m not making a value judgment, just observing that we’re living through changing times with the Sox and it’s going to be an interesting exercise.

The hope here is that Robin’s more even demeanor will have a positive and calming effect on a team that will be looking a new identity and direction as they attempt to prove that they are better than all the pundits are predicting.

So, as you’re watching the Sox perform these spring, also keep a close eye on how their collective personality is being formed. It could be the difference between success and failure.

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